LVAM - January/February 2016 - Issue 13 by Las Vegas Agent Magazine

January/February 2016

Scott Beaudry Real Estate Black Belt

ALSO INSIDE:

Newsletter

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CONTENTS Created Exclusively for the Las Vegas Real Estate Agent

New and Hot Technology Tool for GLVAR Members

Scott Beaudry PUBLISHER

Melodie C. Miller

Publisher@LVAgentMagazine.com

DIRECTOR OF SALES

Desiree Van Leer Desi@LVAgentMagazine.com

COPY EDITOR

Melanie Cardano Ceditor@LVAgentMagazine.com

Amber De La Garza

Entrepreneurs and Disability Insurance— You Don't Need It. Right?

The New TRID Closing Rules Rick Piette

Mood Lighting

Drive It Off & Then Write It Off?

Mike Klimek

Back to the Daily Basics: Up and At 'Em, Sunshine… Let's Move It! Brett Figueroa

Scott A. Trombley

COVER STORY

SCOTT BEAUDRY

Lisa Gouveia Art@LVAgentMagazine.com

PHOTOGRAPHY

Jamie Thomson Jlthomson85@gmail.com

For more information please email or call 702-530-5033.

Las Vegas Agent Magazine is distributed bi-monthly, via U.S. Mail to Realtors® in the Las Vegas Valley. We welcome reader correspondence and are always looking for the best possible content to offer our subscribers. Please send all comments, suggestions and inquiries to Publisher@LVAgentMagazine.com

Sam Peters

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Las Vegas Agent Magazine assumes no responsibility for, or endorses the thoughts expressed or advertised. No portion of Las Vegas Agent Magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the Publisher. All rights reserved.

4 Business Growth Strategies That Will Reduce Your Stress

REAL ESTATE BLACK BELT

25 29 30

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE: 702-530-5033

Newsletter

Housing Statistics

FROM THE PRESIDENT

NEW AND HOT TECHNOLOGY TOOL for GLVAR Members By: Scott Beaudry, 2016 GLVAR President

s a Realtor, have you ever found yourself without the ability to access accurate property data or showing information on the fly? How about the ability to generate important consumer reports without tedious imputing? The wait is over. In November of 2015, The Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors signed an agreement with Realtor Property Resource, also known as RPR, to provide this free tool to its members. What's RPR? RPR provides easy access to detailed property and market information right at your fingertips. In fact, RPR is available in the iOS and Google Play store right now for your tablet and smart phone. One of the most impressive features of RPR are the numerous reports and tools available to you. • The Seller’s report is a tool for listing presentations • School attendance zones, FEMA flood maps, demographic information, thematic maps, heat maps. • Comps Analysis and Property Investment Analysis tools

• School Reports that summarizes student population, testing outcomes and community information about a public or private school. • Neighborhood report that summarizes economic, housing, demographic and quality of life information about an area. • Market activity reports is a snapshot of all the changes in a local real estate market What are my personal thoughts about RPR? I'm ranking this very high on my “Must Have” applications. I personally use various mobile apps in combination to accomplish the same thing that RPR does all in one place. I can even take additional photos and notes on the fly and include them in a consumer report. That alone is a huge time saver. Another impressive fact is RPR’s ability to innovate and bring additional features to Realtors on a consistent basis. Technology is moving at a light speed pace, and RPR is on top of bringing the latest to our Realtor members. I urge you to check out www.narrpr.com and find out how this new technology can help you in your business.

Scott Beaudry, a Las Vegas native, is the Broker/Owner of Universal Realty. Since opening in 1988, the company continues to be family owned but more importantly, operates as a family-oriented brokerage that supports of all its agents. He has volunteered on multiple Realtor® committees. As the 2016 President for Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors, Scott has insight into the needs of consumers in and the future of the real estate industry. For more information, contact Scott at Universal Realty:: 702-938-7700, cell: 702-353-2170 or fax: F: 702-946-1184.

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

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ENTREPRENEURS AND DISABILITY INSURANCE

You don’t need it. Right?

By: Sam Peters

It was Black Friday, and Johnny Realtor decided to avoid the crowds. He wished his wife and teenage daughter luck as they left, bright and early, in search of the infamous holiday bargains. He was glad to have some much needed time to reflect, without the crowds, as he started the home decorating process. The family was excited! Johnny had just closed on two sales, padding the savings account a bit just before the holidays. It was going to be a great Christmas. Up went the stockings. “There! Look at that Christmas tree – oh wait, where is that star? There it is!” Johnny climbs the step ladder, leans over to perch the family star… CRASH!!! In our fictional, but not-so-made-up story here, Johnny may be able to pick himself up from the bottom of the fake balsam fir and finish decorating without the embarrassment of anyone knowing. Or he may have broken a hip requiring traction. You never know. The scenario above is one we can all visualize as we read the words. The problem is, many of us can’t visualize it in our own lives. All too often, we think, “That won’t happen to me,” or “I’ll take care of that tomorrow.” But what if it was more than the proverbial Christmas tree incident? Now, what if it was your broken leg. You’re now prevented from getting out to show homes, meet clients and network in person. Have you considered what you will need to continue to pay the bills and provide for your family if you can no longer complete the sales process? The examples of injuries and illnesses can fill this publication. You’re smart – you get it. Johnny was smart, too. A few months back, he began doing research for just such an occasion. He’d saved up enough to cover expenses for about six months, but after that, things would get dicey. In his research, he found a variety of coverage that may cover someone like him, depending on the circumstances. He read about Workers Compensation Insurance that generally covers workplace injuries if the employer had or was required to have the insurance. He wasn’t covered there.

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

He read about Social Security Disability and the coverage available for long term injury or illness. He read on socialsecurity. gov that the approval process could take up to 3-5 months, if approved with the first application. Later, he found a disability approval guide website with a graphic depicting the timeline for approval to be 2.5 to 5-years, if multiple appeals were needed. Rolling the dice was not an option, even in Las Vegas. His research continued. After a few stories about surgeons who couldn’t operate due to a hand injury and lawyers who couldn’t practice because of an illness, he ran across an article from the October 2004 issue of REALTOR Magazine that described a realtor who was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease and was out of the sales process for nearly a year. “Whoa! That could be me.” The reality here is that not only could it happen to Johnny, it could happen to anyone reading this. In fact, according to the Council for Disability Awareness, one in four of today’s 20year-olds will become disabled before they retire. Moreover, accidents are not the only reasons for long-term absences. The most common reasons for absence include back injuries, cancer, heart disease and mental disorders. So how does disability insurance work? What does it cover? How long does it last? How much does it cost? These are all great questions. The general principle is that the insurance will replace a portion of your income (60% as an example) for a given period (a few years or up to age 65, etc.), after a waiting period (14 days, 60 days, 1 year, etc.). Many insurance companies offer short and/or long term disability insurance on an individual basis for those who don’t have coverage through an employer. Short term disability is just that; it covers short periods, generally up to a year after a defined waiting period. Long Term disability can cover injuries and illnesses for longer periods, up to age of retirement, also subject to a waiting period that is generally also longer than that of short term disability. continued on page 20

January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

LIGHTING By: Mike Klimek

ver had a romantic dinner at your house only to realize that your lighting could burn your date’s retinas? Replacing a standard light switch with a dimmer switch will allow you to soften the lighting and it might just kick-start your dinner, along with your relationship. Who says home improvement can’t be romantic? Replacing a light switch is very easy. There are a few different kinds. A slide dimmer allows you to slide the knob up or down to adjust the brightness; a dial dimmer can be adjusted by turning the knob; a toggle dimmer looks like a regular light switch, but has an adjustment on the side; and an electronic dimmer turns on and off by touch and adjusts brightness with a longer depression of the controller. The electronic dimmer looks more expensive and is more expensive. Buy a single-pole switch if there is only one switch that turns the lights on and off. If you have two locations that turn the lights on and off, you will need a three-way switch. With a three-way switch, you won't be able to dim the lights at both locations unless you buy an expensive model (about $75) that has some souped-up circuitry. Before installation, make sure to turn off the power at the main circuit panel. Remove the cover plate and unscrew the screws that hold the old switch in place. Pull it out a few inches and use a neon tester to make sure that there is no power in the box. This will save you from getting shocked, however, you can tell your date that you did get shocked while attempting to create a more romantic setting. You may get some sympathy romance, which is better than no romance at all. Dimmer switches have wires coming from them as opposed to typical wall switches. So instead of connecting the wires coming from the box directly to the switch, you will connect them to the wires coming from the dimmer switch.

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

Before you remove the old switch, take note of which wires are attached to which screw terminals. If you have a single-pole switch, just attach the wires from the box to the wires coming from the dimmer switch. Depending on how the circuit was run, you may have two black wires coming from the box or you may have one black wire and one white wire. Both of these wires will be “hot.” The white wire should be tagged as being “hot” by having a wrapping of black electrical tape near the end, however this isn't always the case. Attach the green or bare copper wire from the box to the green grounding screw on the switch. Use wire nuts on all of the electrical connections for a snug fit. If you have a three-way switch, the dimmer switch will have an additional wire lead. This common lead will be attached to the common circuit wire, which is typically the one that was attached to the darkest colored screw terminal on the old switch. Connect the remaining wires just like the single-pole switch. Gently fold the wires back into the box and screw the dimmer to the box. Install the cover plate and turn the power back on to test the switch. I recommend having some soft music and drinks on hand before inviting your date back for dinner. Mike Klimek is a licensed contractor and owner of Las Vegas Handyman. He has written hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles regarding home repair and remodeling and has been published in Southern Nevada Home & Garden Magazine, Finishing Touches Magazine, Zip Code Magazines, and Real Estate Success Magazine. He has written a weekly column for the Las Vegas Review-Journal & Sun since November 2000. Watch for Mike’s regular column here and in the Las Vegas RJ.” He can be reached by email at: questions@pro-handyman. com or by phone at (702) 896-0000.

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COVER STORY

SCOTT BEAUDRY

REAL ESTATE BLACK BELT Scott working with brown-belt student Laura Vera

“Quickly as you can, snatch the pebble from my hand. … When you can take the pebble from my hand, it will be time for you to leave.” – Master Kan, to young Kwai Chaing Caine, in 1970s martial arts TV series Kung Fu It’s hard to establish whether Master Kan also said, “Patience, grasshopper” to his young pupil in the Kung Fu series. But the phrase entered the vernacular as surely as did Mr. Miyagi’s “Wax on, wax off” from The Karate Kid. Patience, unwavering focus, humility, and an obligation to pass on one’s wisdom are the essence of both martial arts training and Scott Beaudry’s persona when he’s teaching those coming up through the ranks. The similarities are no coincidence. Beaudry has been studying martial arts for 30 years. He met his wife, Michelle, while teaching her brother in the dojo. He also holds a second-degree black belt in Shotokan karate and has been known to say, “The black belt is not a mark or symbol of the end of the journey …; rather it is the mark that one is done packing for the journey and may now take the first step.” Training young agents, in the firm, confident voice of a master, he advises:“Have patience. You can’t have everything all at once. Unless you cultivate your presentation and never stop working at it, you will fail.”

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

“Focus on your goals, and always revisit them” lest the dayto-day distract you. Did he reach today’s stage in his career—2016 President of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR)--fully formed, then? Hardly. He remembers, at seven or eight, showing properties with his mom, who worked at VIP Realty at the time. He accompanied her from house to house and admits, “I hated it! Every time there’s a kid with a real estate agent mom in my office, I understand what they’re going through. I used to swear, ‘I’ll never get a real estate license!’” Patience, grasshopper. Gradually, after his mother left VIP and started her own company, Urban Realty, he became its “runner” at 13. Today, the most paperless of the greater Las Vegas area brokers laughs, remembering, “You’d get online by putting the phone

His current goal is for Universal to be a hub—a small, efficient footprint with satellite offices and 120 agents. And mobile technology is more critical than ever. “Agents used to rent offices. Now they’re so mobile that they don’t need an office. They work from home, they work from Starbucks, from the library. They go from this person’s house to that, from this satellite to another. Their car is their office, too. Once they realize that they aren’t tied down to a desk, they can be more efficient. Mayor Carolyn Goodman administering Oath of Office to Scott Beaudry.

“We’re looking to open a Westside satellite office, for which we’re seeking a manager. But our key staff is mainly here, for accounting and filing.

handset in these two cuffs--the portal to the first MLS. Everything was on thermal paper. And it was my job to enter all the listings. I still remember the codes you had to put in, line by line. I ran the “hot sheets” every morning, of all the listings that came on.”

“We have executive suites when you need to sit down somewhere with a client, when you need that human handshake, but why set up too many places that are just going to sit empty?”

Now, whenever he does orientations, he has to smile at complaints about how hard and time-consuming things are.

Within the next 10 years, he envisions establishing multiple offices in different states and continuing to teach technology to all of their agents.

“I’ve come from the old school but embrace the new,” he says, sensei-like. He ended up getting his real estate license at 23. “Hello? Why fight it?” he’d realized. “This is what I grew up doing.” He studied marketing at UNLV, dabbled in other fields, sold real estate here and there, then leapt fully into the business in his late twenties. Meanwhile, his mother had sold Urban Realty to Century 21 and opened Universal Realty around 1988—the point at which Scott returned briefly to the family fold. He says, “I only left Universal back then because it was just her and one other person. I wasn’t getting that full spectrum of education.” His own teaching experience began when he went to Coldwell Banker Premier and became an instructor. At that early moment in the Internet era, he was also the technology director for the office.

This year, as panel speaker at the National Association of Realtors’ Tech Edge Broker Summit in Seattle, he asked the very questions to which he has the latest answers: What technologies do you use in your brokerage? How do you get that technology to your agents? This year--more than ever, thanks to Beaudry--the emphasis in GLVAR is on technology and communications—from mobile devices to websites, blogs, and social media. The association even has an in-house studio, to tape and archive how-to videos for members. Got a question about what’s going on with MLS? Now you can watch GLVAR’s Stephanie Hill putting a live face to the news. “Our town is 24-7, and our members work 24-7. They can’t always call the association about, like, the new Realtors Property Resource® (RPR).”

Even then, technology had become his most frequently uttered word. Still is, along with the word teach. “But they didn’t listen to me,” he says, incredulous. “I told them, guys, you need to get an internal network, you gotta get Internet in this office! They said, ‘No, we don’t need to. It’s just a fad’!” But you can’t stop Scott Beaudry from preaching technology. So, he left Coldwell Banker, took a detour to Liberty, then came home to Universal 13 years ago, eventually taking it over completely. Scott Beaudry with his wife , Michelle, and daughters Megan and Rachel. January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

Now, at the click of a mouse, they can watch videos and get information about it at the GLVAR website. According to the site, “GLVAR members, like all NAR members, can access RPR data and search public records for over 160 million properties nationwide. By early 2016, once the integration is complete, all parcels in Southern Nevada included in RPR’s database will be enhanced with GLVAR MLS data.” Through GLVAR, Beaudry runs “iPad for Realtors” and other workshops where everyone works on their devices, and breaks off to field questions as they arise. “Everybody learns at different levels,” he says. “Some agents just get it, some take two, three, four times. I don’t expect them to learn it all in class, so I make time to continue teaching them one on one.” Celebrating Christmas with his wife , Michelle.

Remember, too, humility is a cardinal trait in the martial arts. So it should come as no surprise to hear President Beaudry insist, “I’m not a political guy. For instance, when I go to yoga or the gym, there might be an agent in the class, but I don’t talk business. Later on they find out and say, ‘Oh, that’s who you are!’ “But that’s not me. I’m just in class like anybody else. I’m not into that upper-crust hierarchy b.s.” That’s probably why he didn’t get into GLVAR committees until relatively late in his career. Now he’s riding the wave. In 2005 he decided to give the open-membership Forms Committee a whirl. Three years later, because of his love of technology, he became a member of the MLS Committee. He claims that GLVAR MLS Director Stephanie Hill is to blame for all the rest. “Scott,” she’d purred, “we really want you to run for vice chair [of MLS]. Don’t worry. We’ll take care of everything. It’ll be easy, it won’t take a lot of time.”

another without taking all the lily pads. And when I was state treasurer in 2014, we had the same issue with a new CEO!” Trial by fire for becoming president-elect of GLVAR in 2015, and president in 2016. “Now, every time we have a state meeting, they pull me aside and say, ‘Scott, you’re going to run for state again, right?’” Maintaining that unwavering focus on GLVAR, he continues, “This year is all about technology, getting the committees stronger, having our committees actually working together. This year I started an evaluation system for the committees, to make them better. And now we’ll have two days of leadership training instead of four or five hours. “If we’re going to fix our association, it has to start from within.” Has Scott snatched the pebble? Is his professional journey complete by becoming GLVAR president? What about National? “All I can say is, we’ll see what happens,” he replies with a smile.

“She pitched me, and I fell for it!” Beaudry says, laughing. Before he knew it, he was vice chair, then chair in 2010. “They’d asked me to run for the GLVAR board, just before the treasurer’s position came open. So I ran for that and became treasurer in 2012—in a really tough year, when we had to look for a new CEO.” No sooner did he get through that than the Nevada Association of Realtors came to him and said, “Scott, you did such a great job at GLVAR, we’d like you to run for treasurer for state.” “It’s a big jump from something other than local president to state,” he admits. “I basically leapfrogged from one pond to

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

To reach Scott Beaudry, please email him at broker@universalrealty.com, or call 702-938-7700.

DRIVE IT OFF & THEN WRITE IT OFF? “I think I heard that any vehicle acquired must be used for business at least 50% of the time. Is that right?” “Yes. That’s the first test.” “So how much can you deduct?” “That’s the real question, isn’t it?” By: Scott A. Trombley

Bart sat in the diner, in his favorite booth, stirring his coffee. He was waiting for a fellow small business owner with whom he occasionally shared a breakfast of fresh blueberry muffins and real butter. Betty wasn’t a competitor but they serviced the same industry. So after a chance meeting at a Chamber of Commerce roundtable, they’d agreed to come together once a month to share ideas and vent the occasional frustration, if need be. Despite the challenges, they both enjoyed being small business owners. Bart was early for their meeting. He found himself watching for Betty’s car, a three year-old sedan he remembered to be ice blue. There was a light rain beating the diner window and he lost track of the diner’s parking lot after a time. “Good morning, Bart.” “Betty! I didn’t see you drive up.” “That’s because I have a new SUV.” “Oh, you do? What did you get?” “A Cadillac Escalade.” “Wow. Business must be good.” “It is, but my accountant advised me to make this purchase as a year-end tax deduction.” “I’ve always heard of this but never looked into it. I’m having a pretty good year myself so perhaps this is something I should consider?” “For my situation, my accountant called it a no-brainer but if I were you, I’d ask yours before doing anything.” “I think I will,” said Bart, as he poured Betty some coffee. “It must be fresh in your mind. What can you tell me about the rules?” “It’s something called Section 179 of the tax code. It used to be called the Hummer Tax Loophole because at one time, you could write-off the entire cost of a large vehicle. Then the government got wise.” “They usually do.” “Anyway, the deduction limits are still there, just not the size of a Hummer.”

“Yes.” “Let’s see if I recall the numbers… again, it’s best to ask your accountant but for a passenger vehicle, the number is just over $11,000. It’s $11,060, I think.” “And they allow more for other vehicles?” “Yes. The IRS will allow up to a $25,000 on other types.” “Like?” “Basically, any vehicle that is designed and built for mostly business purposes. Taxis, cargo vans, certain pick-up trucks…” “And Escalades?” “Exactly. Here are the goods. Vehicles with a gross vehicle weight between 6,000 and 14,000 lbs. also fall into the higher category. So buying the Escalade allowed me the higher deduction.” “Not to mention showing the world your business is successful. Can I lease or purchase to obtain the deduction?” “Absolutely.” “My calendar is full of deadlines right now. I have to do this by when?” “You can do it any time, of course, but to qualify for a current tax year deduction, you must take delivery of your new car or truck by the close of business on December 31.” “I don’t have much time, then. Didn’t we meet a Scott from the Cadillac dealership at the last roundtable?” “Scott Trombley . He’s my man.” “So what’s the catch?” “My accountant said there isn’t one. It’s all part of the government’s efforts to encourage economic activity.” “Well, that part of its strategy must be working. So what do you think of this real butter? Heavenly, isn’t it?” December is typically a busy month for the automotive sales professional. Not only are vehicles outstanding gifts, sometimes presented as a once-in-a-lifetime thrill in the driveway for Hanukah or on Christmas morning, but can also serve as an continued on page 25 January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

CFPB FINALIZES ‘KNOW BEFORE YOU OWE’ MORTGAGE DISCLOSURES But concerns remain regarding how to know if your buyers are getting the best deal. Premier Mortgage Lending launches KnowBeforeYouOweNevada website. By Rick Piette

By now every active Real Estate Agent and Mortgage

have received the Fees Worksheet, how do they know

Loan Officer has had dealings with the new TRID

‘how’ to shop & compare between different lenders

mortgage forms. The simplest way to explain what

worksheets?

the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) did is (a) they combined four forms into two forms and (b)

the borrower must now receive the closing paperwork,

called the Closing Disclosure, three days prior to signing their loan documents and closing.

Premier Mortgage Lending recently launched a first of its kind website to show Realtors and Consumers exactly how to read a Loan Fees Worksheet. The site, entitled, KnowBeforeYouOweNevada.com provides a short easy-to-view video explaining how to read and

Besides making the loan forms more ‘consumer

understand a Loan Estimate Fee Sheet. Plus the site

friendly’, the primary objective of the CFPB was to get

features six short one-minute videos explaining the inner

homebuyers to shop & compare – and to find the best

workings of the mortgage industry and details how to

deal on their loan. But...before your buyer receives

get your buyers ‘the best deal’ on their mortgage.

their first TRID disclosure called the ‘Loan Estimate’ they are encouraged to shop lenders and compare rates and fees. During this ‘shop & compare’ process your buyer will receive an estimated loan cost sheet – generally called a ‘Loan Fees Worksheet’.

Premier owner, Rick Piette, says “we are very proud of our new site and the transparency it brings to the process of obtaining a home loan. Every Realtor owes it to themselves and their buyers to take 10 minutes to view this impactful website.” Piette adds, “if you can

It is right at this stage of the process where your

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4 BUSINESS GROWTH

Strategies That Will Reduce Your

SS S T RE ST R E SS By: Amber De La Garza

o you love chaos? How about stress? Anxiety? Feeling overwhelmed and out of control? Probably not, and yet, most small business owners and entrepreneurs experience those feelings on a weekly (if not daily) basis. Can you relate? Do you feel like your business is often running you instead of the other way around? Does your dream of growing your business seem hopeless because the stress of simply maintaining it is often too much to handle? The ever so delicate balance of maintaining your sanity and growing your business can be challenging but implementing simple strategies can help you achieve that elusive balance. Start using those strategies today to foster the growth of your business and reduce your stress. Clarity You must have a good grasp of what you want to accomplish before you set out to achieve success. As Steven Covey says, “You must begin with the end in mind.” If you don’t know where you are heading, any new, shiny object/project/opportunity/app/ program will look like a great thing to spend your time and energy on, which means more responsibilities leading to more stress. Having clarity is all about big vision thinking. What are your long term goals? How do you want your life and business to look in X years? Your goals should be true to your desires. Write them down but don’t get caught up in semantics. Just be as descriptive as necessary in order to visualize accomplishing each goal and read through your goals as a daily affirmation every morning. Saving your goals on your phone is a great idea because you’ll have access to them wherever you go, which can help you stay on track. Having clarity on where you want to go is necessary to figure out how to get there. Plan As Antoine de Saint-Exupéry put it, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Stop just wishing and start planning because both passion and clearly defined goals alone will not help you attain success. Break your larger goals up into smaller projects and prioritize them in order of importance. Doing so will enable you to reduce stress and not feel overwhelmed with all that needs to

get done. Focus on one project at a time and move on to the next only when your current project reaches maintenance mode status. Plan well into the future so you won’t have to deal with any surprise deadlines for time-intensive projects. It’s smart to schedule large projects for specific durations on your calendar after prioritizing them. Some projects may be only a week long, others an entire quarter. The strategy works because when any new shiny object/project/opportunity/app/program comes your way, you can weigh its importance against the project planned for that timeframe and your overall goals. Even though planned projects usually win, it is worth filtering every attractive opportunity. Sometimes, reprioritizing is necessary and that is ok! You should also plan to accomplish your goals one project at a time instead of haphazardly wasting your time and energy on fruitless projects with little return on your investment. You have a finite amount of energy and time so refuse to spread yourself thin over multiple projects. Slow down, plan ahead, and stay focused so you can advance your business without needing to pull your hair out. Eliminate (D List) Running a business is complicated and more demanding than any one person can handle. Simply put, you cannot do everything yourself and expect to grow your business stressfree. Accumulating responsibilities without having more time will inevitably affect the quality of your business and your mental stability. Something always has to give each time you add more to your plate, be it your sanity, customer service, product quality, or family time. What is the first thing that goes when your plate is overly full? You need to eliminate responsibilities to clear the way for new ones that arise. Otherwise, you will not be eager to take on new projects that you know will successfully grow your business. Your natural reaction will be to avoid them because you are already overwhelmed. Create a D List which is simply a list of tasks you can either delete or delegate at no expense to your business. Follow through with eliminating those unnecessary tasks off your plate or assigning them to others to complete. continued on page 20

18 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

continued from page 18

Execute Schedule time on your calendar to execute the projects that will grow your business. Perhaps you need only an hour a day or maybe three hours twice a week. The key is to hold those scheduled blocks sacred so you can use that time to implement change and catapult your business forward. There will always be something else going on or someone else requesting your time. Respect your commitments to yourself so you can execute your plans to grow your business. Establishing clarity on your goals, planning a course of action on how you’re going to achieve them, eliminating that which you can delete or delegate, and executing your plan for success will noticeably reduce your stress and grow your business. Implementing those strategies takes commitment but the result is worth it! Make the effort to consistently execute the highpriority projects that are imperative to your success so you can reduce your stress while growing your business. Get my Top Ten Time Maximizers to save time and grow your business, visit TimeMaximizers.com. Amber De La Garza, The Productivity Specialist, works with business owners and entrepreneurs who are ready to transform the way they work so they can reduce stress, maximize time, and grow their business. Amber provides her clients with precisely what they need – the best in productivity training and consulting to meet their maximum potential and accomplish their goals. For more information or to reach Amber: 702-527-2307 or Amber@TheProductivitySpcialist.com.

continued from page 8

Disability insurances vary widely by company. The cost also varies widely based on factors such as current health, age, selected waiting periods, payment periods/durations, amount of income being replaced, and more. As you begin your New Year of excellence in the sales process, be confident and always be closing. But most importantly, be prepared! There are great resources available on this topic at www.dissabilitycanhappen.org. Be like Johnny and do your research. When you have questions, call your insurance agent for a personal review. If the unexpected happens, you and your family will be glad you did.

Sam is the Owner/Operator of Peters Family Insurance, LLC in Summerlin, Las Vegas, Nevada. Sam, his family, and their business partners have a collective 40 years’ experience in the industry. Sam has earned his Master’s Degree in Administration from Central Michigan University, a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Finance from the University of Maryland University College, is a Retired Military Officer, and is licensed in Nevada for Property, Casualty, Life, and Health insurance (#1104086) and South Carolina for Life and Health insurance (#781880). His agency supports local youth baseball and The Animal Foundation, a no-kill animal shelter and adoption center. PH: 702-360-8564. Fax: 702-331-1524. 1945 Village Center Circle, Ste 150, Las Vegas, Nevada 89134.

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20 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

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January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

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The New TRID Closing Rules How Long Will It Take To Close A Mortgage Loan Under The New Process? By: Rick Piette

y now, we’ve all had some contact with the new TRID forms and procedures. TRID, the acronym for TILA RESPA Integrated Disclosures, took four forms and condensed them into two forms. These forms are given to buyers at the start of their loan process (the Loan Estimate) and at the end (the Closing Disclosure). The Closing Disclosure, more commonly called the CD, replaced the long-used HUD-1 Closing Statement so now, no more HUD! While the new process didn’t do much to the way the start of a loan application takes place, it has made a distinct difference in the closing portion of the process! That’s because the CD is (a) now given to your buyer a minimum of 3 days before they sign their loan docs and close and (b) because the final closing paperwork, the CD, is now being prepared by the Lender, not the Escrow Officer. So what does all this mean to a Realtor in regards to how long it will take to close a sale when your buyer is securing financing for the purchase? The CFPB’s estimate was 88 days. Many Mortgage Companies and Realtors are estimating 60 days. The Loan Officers are saying 45 days. And the vast majority of purchase contracts are still saying 30 days!

What is the real answer? I think that the realistic answer ‘will eventually be,’ add 5 days to your normal closing times. The reason I say ‘will eventually be’ is because every Lender and every Title & Escrow company has prepared for this change and made the change in a different manner. For Lenders, this is “all new” for us to gather all the figures in the transaction. For the Title & Escrow companies, they are now sort of “out in the cold” as to when things should be happening because they are no longer driving the bus at closing! But “this, too, shall change!” When the CFPB drafted these new forms and made the new rules, they received input from Realtors, Lenders, Title & Escrow companies – and most importantly, from the borrowing public. They put exhaustive time and energy into making the forms simple and understandable to the average borrower. I applaud them for their work. If you’ve taken the time to read a Closing Disclosure, they are easy to read and make a lot of sense. It will be some months before we’re all accustomed to the new closing process. But I think we’ll find that “soon,” the closing process will get quicker, and we’ll have more happy, satisfied, and informed buyers.

Rick, a long time native of Southern Nevada and of the mortgage industry, currently owns and is Broker of Premier Mortgage Lending, with offices in Henderson, NV. In his career in the mortgage business, he has held the positions of Loan Officer, Manager, Vice-President, Sr. Vice-President… and now, is an Owner/Broker. The full-service lender is a member of the Las Vegas and Boulder City Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, the Southern Nevada Homebuilders Assn., and was recently honored as the “2013 Affiliate of the Year” by the Greater Las Vegas Assn. of Realtors. He enjoys many outdoor activities including mountain climbing, skiing, backpacking, Harley rides, and river running. For more information, please call Rick Piette of Premier Mortgage Lending at 702-485-6600 or visit www.PremierMortgageLending.com. Premier Mortgage Lending, NMLS #393282.

22 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

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SKYE CANYON

BACK TO THE DAILY BASICS… Up and At ‘Em, Sunshine… Let’s move it! By: Brett Figueroa

s we prepare to break into a new year, 2016, it's a great time as a realtor to explore some of the daily basic disciplines that you must get back into in order to secure your best year ever. What are some basic, fundamental, daily rituals that you used to do that you no longer do? What basics have fallen through the cracks that you no longer even see or pay attention to? The essay, “All I really need to know I learned in Kindergarten” by Robert Fulghum is a great example of the basics. It’s fundamental and it hits the core. Most fail here. We simply fail to do the basics, whether it’s in our marriage or finances. Simply put: we cannot be bothered with something so basic and simple, so we search out the more complex. What a smart group we are. One of the major key elements of the most successful people in the world is they tend to keep to the basics, not that complex issues are not Important. We find that the most successful simply master the basic principles and build from there. In the military, the starting point is called basic training, and that’s for a reason; they start with the basics and build from there. The old cliché of going back to basics is good for all of us, as that’s what seems to matter most. Many people tend to skip the basics as they simply believe that success could not really come down to doing the basics, so they look way out there for something easier. Really, what is easier than doing the basics? For example, in a marriage, if the basic fundamental principles are overlooked, then we are most likely doomed in that marriage. The basics of saying “I love you” and doing the little things like opening a car door or buying flowers are what the foundation is built on. In sales, for example, the basics simply come down to prospecting, presenting, closing and following through. It seems when most people attend a success

seminar or buy a success book, they are usually looking for the abstract ideas, the diamond in the rough, and fail to notice the little things. We find that champions, whether they are a movie star, a top athlete or a top sales person; simply are brilliant at the basics. They do the little things that make the biggest difference. When real estate mogul Gary Keller attended a success seminar in his early years, he picked up a success principle so basic, so simple and yet so overlooked for most; and that was to think big and aim high, pretty basic stuff. Now, there were probably hundreds of people at the same event, yet Gary Keller emerged with the keys to the kingdom because he chose to grab the basics, the fundamentals to building success and creating fulfillment. What are some basic fundamentals that you can GET back to immediately? Maybe it’s waking up earlier or making one more sales call or saying thank you after a meal or putting yourself in peak emotional state each and every day. Maybe it's prospecting an hour a day or making 50 calls minimum a day, maybe it’s getting back into the gym or saying your prayers. Maybe it’s visualizing your dreams every night for five minutes before you go to bed. Maybe it’s setting goals, or time blocking. Maybe it’s spending time with loved ones. Again, what basic thing could you get back to doing that would allow for a greater quality of life and add new dimensions to your relationships? Allow the basics to stack day after day, month after month, as you commit to reaching new levels of success. To be a rockstar realtor, you must have rockstar basics that you do daily. Write down 5 daily disciplines that you MUST do each and every day, put that list in front of you, and make it accessible as your daily reminder. If you do these 5 daily basics that are most important to you and the well-being of your business, you will have a business that is not just a business, but a legendary one.

Brett Figueroa has trained thousands of sales professionals leading many of them to the top 1% of their industry. Brett has delivered over 3,000 presentations nationwide and abroad. With Brett’s training many of these companies earned millions more in additional revenue. Trained by the nation’s foremost authority on the psychology of peak performance and personal, professional, and organizational turnaround, Anthony Robbins. For more information, or to reach Brett, please write: Brett.figueroa@yahoo.com or call 303-921-3017.

24 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

continued from page 15

excellent year-end tax deduction vehicle (no pun intended) for many business owners. This article briefly summarizes what the tax code says regarding this deduction. However, if you are seriously considering this, it makes good sense to consult with your accountant or go to IRS.gov to ensure the deduction will apply to your situation. The applicable tax code section for vehicle deduction is Section 179. Several years ago, the Section 179 deduction was often referred to as the “Hummer Tax Loophole,” because then, it allowed businesses to buy large SUVs and write them off entirely. The government eventually recognized this as too much of a good thing, so while the deduction limits are now more modest, Section 179 can still be a significant tax advantage for your business. The first requirement for the intended vehicle is that it must be used for business purposes more than 50% of the time. Passenger vehicles have a total depreciation deduction limitation of $11,060. For many business owners, this figure is significant. Additionally, other vehicles can qualify for a higher figure if, due to their inherent features, they are not likely to be used more than a minimal amount for personal purposes.

NEWSLET TER FRANK WYATT NAMED 2016 SNHBA PRESIDENT Longtime, respected home builder, Frank Wyatt, the president of Pinnacle Homes in Las Vegas, has taken the helm as 2016 president of the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. Wyatt has been an active member of the association since 1982 when he was a consulting engineer at then-SEA Engineers. He established Pinnacle Homes in Las Vegas in 1992. He also served as SNHBA president in 2011, and has been very active on many of the association’s committees, including its Executive, Legislative, Codes, and Community Frank Wyatt Planning and Infrastructure committees. In 2015, SNHBA presented Wyatt with a Lifetime Achievement Award in Home Building.

• Transport vans, taxis, and other vehicles used to specifically transport people or property for hire;

“There have been a lot of transitions at the association in recent years, but our central mission remains largely the same – work hard to keep new homes competitively priced for as many potential homebuyers as possible,” Wyatt said during his acceptance speech at the association’s Installation and Awards Luncheon in December at the Four Seasons Hotel.

• Qualified non-personal use vehicles specifically modified for business (i.e. van without seating behind driver, permanent shelving installed, and exterior painted with company’s name).

He said the tight supply of local land remains the primary challenge for home builders to sell their new homes at competitive prices.

• Heavy “non-SUV” vehicles with a cargo area at least six feet in interior length (this area must not be easily accessible from the passenger area.) To give an example, many pickups with full-sized cargo beds will qualify (although some "extended cab" pickups may have beds that are too small to qualify).

“Land is a major component of the cost of a home, and in Southern Nevada, it’s a huge challenge for home builders. More than 80 percent of the land in Nevada is owned or controlled by the federal government. Contrast that with Texas where the federal government has less than 2 percent.

• Vehicles with: (1) a fully-enclosed driver's compartment / cargo area, (2) no seating at all behind the driver's seat, and (3) no body section protruding more than 30 inches ahead of the leading edge of the windshield. In other words, a classic cargo van.

“This land constraint keeps our land costs high relative to other locations in the region, and that makes new-home affordability more difficult. The processes currently under way to make land more available will take many years. It’s critical we be a part of the process as it moves forward,” Wyatt said.

Certain vehicles (with a gross vehicle weight rating above 6,000 lbs. but no more than 14,000 lbs.) qualify for expensing up to $25,000 if the vehicle is financed and placed in service prior to December 31 and meet other conditions (again, speak to your accountant).

Wyatt’s roots in Nevada run deep. He graduated from Earl Wooster High School in Reno in 1971. The late Senator Alan Bible appointed Wyatt to the U.S. Air Force Academy that year. He had to resign from his studies in 1973 because of a vision problem that interfered with pilot qualification.

So thanks to Section 179, December is that time of the year not only for joy but for positioning your small business properly for its tax liability. Happy Holidays!

He went on to the Georgia Institute of Technology, better known as Georgia Tech, in Atlanta from 1974 to 1976, graduating with high honors with a degree in civil engineering. In 2004, Georgia Tech presented Wyatt with a Distinguished Graduate Award.

Here are examples of those: • Ambulance or hearse used specifically in your business;

Scott A. Trombley has 28 years of experience in the Automotive Business, having begun his career washing vehicles as a kid and has had since, every position possible in the automotive retail industry. Scott’s father is a retired UAW worker, so Scott literally grew up in the car business, and in Detroit! Now a resident of Henderson, NV., Scott happily hangs his hat at Findlay Automotive Group, which is still a family owned, local business, since 1961.

After graduating, Wyatt joined SEA Engineers (now Stantec) as a civil engineer in the Reno area. He worked on a variety of projects, including public works, private residential development, water right and rural projects. In 1979, he returned to the Atlanta area, where he worked in the design-build sector as the lead civil engineer for the southeastern region for the Carlson Group. He was involved with January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

NEWSLET TER large industrial projects in the southeast. During this period, Wyatt obtained professional civil engineer licenses in most of the southeastern states. He moved to Las Vegas in 1982, and accepted the position of office manager for SEA Engineers where he worked until 1985. During that period, he was in charge of business development and the overall management of the engineering staff. Projects included public works and private development. In 1985, Wyatt left the engineering field to work in the multifamily housing sector in Las Vegas. In mid-1989, he moved to southeast Florida, where he obtained a Florida general contractor’s license, and was in charge of multi-family housing projects for a Las Vegas-based apartment builder. In addition to construction, he coordinated all aspects of the approval process,

HomeAid Southern Nevada is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that was founded in 2004 under the guidance of Bill June of Beazer Homes. Our mission is building new lives for Southern Nevada’s homeless through housing and community outreach. We carry out this mission through Care Days projects, education and awareness in the community and shelter projects. Since we opened our doors, more than 95,000 square feet have been renovated, and over 1500 homeless children and adults have been served through the great work of countless builders, trades, sponsors and volunteers involved with HomeAid Southern Nevada. We pride ourselves on getting over 70% of every project completely donated through labor, services, materials and time. Through this generosity from the building community, our nonprofit service providers and their donors are able to continue to use those vital dollars for programming and support versus a physical structure. We have seen great success through the years with HomeAid Southern Nevada and our process through partnerships with nonprofit organizations such as St Jude’s Ranch for Children, Lutheran Social Services, Boys Hope Girls Hope and the Women’s Development Center. In our time working in the Southern Nevada community, we have seen the need for continued support of non-profit organizations that serve the homeless population. Often times, this is a forgotten population, so with the help and generosity of donors like YOU, we are able to assist many organizations in expanding their operations, continuing to provide beds and ultimately serving more homeless men, women and children in our community.

LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

including environmental applications and approvals in the heavily regulated Broward County/Palm Beach County areas. He returned to Las Vegas in 1992, forming Pinnacle Homes and beginning his distinguished career as a home builder. The company has built more than 1,000 homes, primarily executive and luxury homes, in metropolitan Las Vegas. He is also president of Pinnacle Nevada Corp., an affiliate company that acquires land for development and is the liaison with design professionals for all projects. Wyatt and wife, Kjersti, who have been married for more than 35 years, have two adult children, Andy, and Kristi. Andy Wyatt earned a degree in construction management from Colorado State in 2003, and works at Pinnacle Homes.

Thenmission of the Nevada Subcontractors Association is to promote, enhance and protect the rights of subcontractors. We also work to support the educational, charitable, and political interests of construction subcontractors in the State of Nevada. The NSA provides vital resources to help its members remain informed on the issues that affect them and acts as a forceful advocate on behalf of the interests of subcontractors and suppliers, and the tens of thousands of Nevada families whose livelihoods depend on them. These groups have distinctive concerns and perspectives and the NSA is uniquely qualified to represent them. Founded in 1999, the NSA quickly grew in strength and influence as the construction industry boomed. Through the recovery the impact of the NSA has continued to be felt. Working with an array of partners throughout the state, the NSA has achieved notable successes and become a recognized and respected force in the state of Nevada. The NSA realizes the importance of politics in the construction industry and policymakers realize the importance of the NSA. Our events routinely attract the most influential officials, regulators and lawmakers in the state of Nevada. Our members and staff understand how politics works on the ground and keep our elected representatives informed, educated and updated by waging smart, effective issues campaigns. In addition, the NSA provides programs and services to assist members in other vital aspects of their businesses, such as improving workplace training and safety and reducing jobsite theft. We also provide an avenue to help NSA members obtain essential services and we negotiate exclusive discounts for NSA members through our supplier network.

SOUTHERN NEVADA HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION NEWSLET TER

3rd ANNUAL

SPORTING CLAY EVENT

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 2016 REGISTRATION AT 8:00AM SHOOTING BEGINS AT 9:00AM

PRO-GUN CLUB

12801 Old U.S. 95, Boulder City, NV 89005

Join us for a day of sporting clay, food, raffle prizes, beer and a whole lot of fun!

The money raised with Target Homelessness will help us continue to build shelters and facilities for the homeless. Both HomeAid Southern Nevada and the Nevada Subcontractors Association have worked diligently to help the homeless in our community through these build projects.

TOP TEAMS SHOOTOUT, LUNCH, & PRESENTATION AT 12:00PM

Where does the money we raise go?

For more information, visit our websites: www.homeaidsn.org and

www.nevadasubcontractors.com HomeAid Southern Nevada

SPONSOR OUR EVENT!

info@homeaidsn.org | 702.794.0117 ext 100

November/December 2015 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE

VETERAN FUNDRAISER

Las Vegas most eligible bachelors & bachelorettes! Lots of entertainment and fun! There will be a silent auction and Raffle prizes! Saturda y • February 6, 2016 6:30PM -7:30PM Cocktail Hour & Cash Bar 8:00PM Auction Begins Mandal ay Bay • Foundation Room • Shangri-La Room $25.00 Entry Fee includes two drink tickets! FOR MORE INFORMATION Jimmy Vega 702.445.4100 · jimmyvega@mac.com

Merri Perry 702.219.2585 · merri.perry@yahoo.com

Must RSVP Online!

http://varepbbalasvegas.eventbrite.com 28 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

WOMEN'S COUNCIL OF REALTORS LAS VEGAS

FEBRUARY Meeting February 3, 2016 11:30 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1:00 â&#x20AC;&#x2030;at Bali Hai 5160 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89119 Speaker

Sam Chauhan Founder of MindsetForce Sam's mindset coaching techniques are truly revolutionary. He is known as the Mindset Guru and his results have been talked about in major press outlets including ESPN, The Chicago Tribune, NBC and TIME Magazine. Why is everyone talking about Sam? One word: RESULTS. Sam transforms lives, enhancing one's mindset and dramatically improving their ability to become one's best. As he coaches the Who's Who in the mortgage and real estate industry, athletes, sales professionals, celebrities and CEOs, he astonishes the world with his phenomenal results. Sam possesses a wide variety of skills from Master of NLP, Conversational Hypnosis and Subliminal Persuasive Linguistics.

FUTURE 2016 MEETINGS FOR WCR

Wednesday March 2 Wednesday April 6 Wednesday May 4

Speaker TBD Speaker TBD Speaker Dina Titus

The rest of the meeting dates to follow in next edition

LOCAL HOUSING STATISTICS Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® December 2015 Statistics

Single Family Residential Units AVAILABILITY AT END OF PERIOD # of available units listed Median list price of available units Average list price of available units

*AVAILABILITY AT END OF PERIOD # of available units listed w/o offers Median list price of available units w/o offers Average list price of available units w/o offers

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 11,827 -11.7% -4.4% 239,999 -0.8% +9.1% 359,611 +0.8% +11.5%

Dec 15 $ $

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 7,224 -11.2% -7.1% 270,000 -1.8% +8.9% $ 423,945 -0.6% +12.9% $

Dec 15 $ $

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 2,293 -37.3% +4.4% 235,000 -2.1% +6.9% $ 302,143 -7.2% +9.1% $

Dec 15

NEW LISTINGS THIS PERIOD # of new listings Median price of new listings Average price of new listings

$ $

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 2,679 +35.8% +20.4% 217,000 -1.4% +6.4% $ 256,688 -4.5% +4.1% $

Dec 15

UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD # of units sold Median price of units sold Average price of units sold

$ $

TIME ON MARKET FOR UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD 0-30 days 31-60 days 61-90 days 91-120 days 121+ days

Dec 15

Nov 15

44.9% 19.7% 15.1% 7.3% 13.0%

TOTAL HOME SALES DOLLAR VALUE FOR UNITS SOLD THIS PERIOD

46.5% 21.7% 11.6% 6.5% 13.7%

Dec 14 41.7% 21.1% 13.3% 8.7% 15.2%

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 687,665,977 -1.7% +25.4% $ Dec 15

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®

Condo/Townhouse Units Dec 15 3,094 128,000 244,312 Dec 15 2,091 136,000 284,661 Dec 15 590 130,000 231,364 Dec 15 611 117,900 162,500

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 -10.0% -5.7% +6.7% +16.5% +3.1% +6.9% Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 -9.5% -9.4% +4.7% +18.3% +2.3% +5.3% Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 -28.6% +1.0% +4.1% +16.1% +15.0% +34.2% Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 +8.3% +20.0% -0.9% +12.3% +11.8% -17.2%

Dec 15

Nov 15

43.7% 17.8% 11.6% 6.5% 20.3% Dec 15 99,287,768

Dec 14

45.2% 18.6% 10.3% 8.2% 17.7%

38.3% 19.1% 14.7% 8.1% 19.8%

Change from Change from Nov 15 Dec 14 +21.1% -0.7%

*This category reflects the existing market availability of listings without pending or contingent offers.

For media inquiries, please call George McCabe, with B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358 DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor does it include properties for sale by owner. The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®.

Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® For media inquiries, please call George McCabe, with B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358.

Availability Without Pending Or Contingent Offers DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, End compiles Of and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available toin all ofPeriod Units Period Greater Las Sold Vegas Association REALTORS® Statistics real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor does it include properties for sale by owner. The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, Lincoln and White Pine Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of Units Sold in Period REALTORS®. Availability Without Pending Or Contingent Offers

Thousands

End Of Period 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0

Single Family Residential Units

Condo/ Townhouse Units

4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0

Month

Single Family Residential Units

Condo/ Townhouse Units

Month Source: Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® For media inquires, please call George McCabe, B&P Public Relations, at (702) 325-7358.

ABOUT THE GLVAR

DISCLAIMER: This data is based on information from the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This information is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed. MLS collects, compiles and distributes information about homes listed for sale by its subscribers who are real estate agents. MLS subscription is available to all real estate agents licensed in Nevada, but is not available to the general public. Not all licensed agents subscribe to the MLS. MLS does not include all new homes available or listings from non-MLS agents, nor does it include properties for sale by owner. The territorial jurisdiction of the GLVAR as a member of the National Association of REALTORS® includes Clark, Nye, White Pine and Lincoln Counties, Nevada, and such other areas as from time to time may be allocated to the GLVAR by the Board of Directors of the National Association of REALTORS®.

GLVAR was founded in 1947 and provides its more than 11,000 local members with education, training and political representation. The local representative of the National Association of REALTORS®, GLVAR is the largest professional organization in Southern Nevada. Each GLVAR member receives the highest level of professional training and must abide by a strict code of ethics. For more information, visit www.HomeLasVegas.com or www.lasvegasrealtor.com.

30 LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE | January/February 2016

NEWSLETTER GLVAR honors Heidi Kasama as 2015 REALTOR® of the Year The Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS® (GLVAR) presented its annual awards this week to some of its leading members, including 2014 President Heidi Kasama, who was named REALTOR® of the Year. As part of its annual installation of new officers and board members for 2016 held Heidi Kasama Dec. 12 at the Four Seasons Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, the GLVAR presented its top annual award to Kasama, a longtime local REALTOR® who works at Berkshire Hathaway Home Services – Nevada Properties in Las Vegas. She was honored for serving as a leader in the real estate profession and in the community, association officials said. Other GLVAR award winners for 2015 included: • G ene Nebeker Memorial Award for outstanding service to the GLVAR and the community – David Crete.

David Crete

• Ronn Reiss Award for educational excellence and leadership – Ronnie Vause. •F rank Sala/Marv Rubin Award recognizing long-term commitment to grassroots political action and to protecting private property rights – Lillian Spencer.

Lillian Spencer

Our Own Melissa Zimbelman Named 2016 National President of WCR Local REALTOR Melissa Zimbelman, who has served in several volunteer and leadership roles for the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS (GLVAR), has been named 2016 President of the Women’s Council of REALTORS (WCR). Zimbelman is the brokerowner and a property manager Melissa Zimbelman at LUXE International Realty & Property Management in Las Vegas. During 2015, she served as President-elect of the WCR nationally. She is also a Past President of the Nevada and Las Vegas chapters of the WCR. Zimbelman has been a full-time REALTOR for more than 16 years in Southern Nevada. Her involvement with Women’s Council includes serving on its Executive Committee, the Leadership Academy faculty and Strategic Planning Committee, as well as serving as a Regional Vice President for Region 4. She has also served as chair for the Outreach and Communication Strategic Forum Committee, member of the Broker/ Owner/Manager Program Group and as an instructor for numerous national meeting classes. The WCR is a network of successful REALTORS, advancing women as professionals and leaders in business, the industry and the communities they serve.

• J ack Woodcock Professionalism Award – Rosa Herwick • GLVAR Hall of Fame inductees: David Brownell, 2013 GLVAR President Dave Tina Sr., Robyn Yates.

Rosa Herwick

David Brownell

Robyn Yates

Dave Tina Sr.

Passing the Gavel. (l-r) Realtor and Nevada state Real Estate Commissioner Neil Schwartz, GLVAR CEO Michele Caprio, 2015 GLVAR President Keith Lynam and 2016 President Scott Beaudry. January/February 2016 | LAS VEGAS AGENT MAGAZINE